Compare towns
Nelson vs Wells vs Danvers
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Nelson | Wells | Danvers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
11,713 |
28,098Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 79% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$6,654Highest 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Danvers and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #22 of 133 in ME | #91 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nelson School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers |
| High school in town | None in town | Wells High School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.